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Hey guys, heres the next chapter... Lemme know!!
Luca.
Ch. 7.
Nico walked out of the small food emporium with some irritation. In his hand he carried several bags of the freshest, most delicious foods available in New York, with everything ranging from vegetables such as leeks, potatoes, roma tomatoes and artichokes to the most tender cuts of meat such as veal and lamb shanks. He was entertaining Bianca and Christian tonight, along with Christian's girlfriend, Gabbi. He could have sent a servant to pick up all the ingredients, but moving around in the food emporium, selecting and feeling vegetables for their textures and firmness reminded him of the open air markets he had always visited with the cooks from their estates. It had been one of the few times he had been allowed to escape from the confines of the castle before he turned seven. The memories were thus all positive. Besides, shopping gave him something to do to take his mind off the looming supper.
He had tried as far as possible to ensure that nothing out of the ordinary would happen, but given Dante's disdain for humans and the mere fact that he embraced his eccentric nature as a cambion meant that not all eventualities could be planned for. And now, to make things worse, Nico noticed that the huge amount of energy he had consumed on the aeroplane ride to Italy had caused some serious consequences in his body. It was this more than anything that irritated him.
While he had been standing in the market, he had noticed people staring blatantly at him, clearly unable to do anything but drink in his ethereal beauty. By any standards, sure, he was a breathtakingly handsome guy, but with the new energy coursing through his body, people would find him so painfully beautiful that their very souls would ache. He also noticed that languages came more easily to him. Despite himself, he had found himself understanding all the languages being spoken around him, no small feat for a cosmopolitan city like New York. Even now, he could hear a Chinese woman shouting at some kids in Mandarin, a tall African man talking in clicks on a cellphone while headed for the subway. Everywhere he listened, languages which would have strained his mind to understand them, he could now understand as if they were being spoken in plain English or Italian. Nico knew that his other abilities had also been activated, but he was determined to not engage them. He knew they were addictive and it would be difficult to once again gain control over them if he started indulging in them. Even so, there were some of his abilities such as his angelic beauty and the gift of tongues which he could not control. He resented the intrusion into his privacy, but even so, this was of minor worry to him. Perhaps the most disconcerting of all the changes in Nico was the fact that he found himself craving sex in an almost animalistic way. He had always found the feelings hard to ignore, but with serious discipline he had managed to control himself over the years by practicing controlled abstinence. Now that he had allowed himself to indulge so freely in consuming energy during sex, he found himself hungering for more. With all the old abilities being awakened, it was his soul's way of saying it needed more sustenance to sustain these abilities. Very much like a stomach demanding to have its hunger filled, Nico thought quietly to himself.
As he grew increasingly frustrated with the issues confronting him, Nico had made his way to the ever-waiting Maybach and had slipped into the comfortable leather seats at the back. That was another thing, with his abilities heightened, he was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain this normalcy of using cars and transport as a part of his daily life. There was a part of him, a big part, that was crying out to him to simply use his abilities and to indulge and luxuriate in them. They were there to be used and enjoyed, not denied and ignored. Shaking his head, Nico realised the car had come to a smooth halt outside his house. The back door opened and Nico walked out, thanking Luciano as he walked up the stairs. Heading straight for the kitchen, Nico placed the new foods he had bought on the counter, and walked behind the counter to look for the chef. Without thinking, he started rattling off instructions about how the food was to be prepared for the evening. It was only when the chef replied with a bow that Nico realised he had been speaking in Italian. Clenching his teeth in frustration with himself, Nico strode out the kitchen to his room.
As he walked through the door, Nico pulled his shirt off his torso. He threw it onto the bed and had taken off his shoes and pants and was standing there in a pair of Calvin Klein briefs when he noticed another presence in the room. He had been so caught up in his own emotions and thoughts that he had seemingly not noticed the other person sitting in the dark by the window.
"Looking good there, little brother. You been working out or changing your diet?" Dante's eyes sparkled mockingly as he spoke.
"What do you want, Dante?"
"Wow, we are grouchy today aren't we? What's wrong, stressed out about your little dinner party tonight?"
"Not that it's any of your business, but no, I'm not."
"Well that's a good thing. So you won't mind entertaining another guest then?"
Nico spun around glaring at Dante.
"What do you mean, Dante? Who did you invite?"
"Well, I didn't realise I needed your permission to eat in my own house at my own dinner table. I thought we shared this place." Again there was a smug smile planted firmly on Dante's face.
Nico pursed his lips in irritation. As if the day could go any worse. This was exactly what he had been worrying about. He had hoped that with some luck, Dante would be out for the night. He had known better than to ask Dante to stay away. Doing so would have ensured that his brother stayed there. He had instead chosen to say nothing. Clearly Dante had found out about the party anyway.
"What are you playing at here, Dante? Since when do you care about chatting to humans?"
"Ah, always so sceptical little brother. Can't I just show a little brotherly interest in the new friends you've managed to make. Spend some family time together. Show the world a united face, as it were."
"We both know that when it comes to you, there's always an agenda, Dante. I'm just warning you not to do anything stupid. And stay away from all of them, they aren't here for your entertainment." Nico had clenched his hands into fists and was speaking with clenched jaws as he addressed Dante.
"Actually, brother, that's exactly what they are. They're the same as every other human on this earth: here for the entertainment of those like us. But anyway, I suppose then supper tonight wouldn't be the best time to let you know that I heard from the Duchess of North America?"
Despite himself, Nico felt himself growing curious. He wanted to maintain an irritated appearance towards Dante in an attempt to ward him off from the night's proceedings, and looking curious about any news Dante may have received would only serve to weaken the mood he wanted to portray. Finally losing the battle with himself, Nico found himself asking what Dante had heard. It was unusual for the two of them to have contact with the Duchess. Actually, except through the Pontiff, it was unusual for any members of the Regiorum to have direct contact with each other. It was only in important matters that it happened. Or in Conclave, Nico thought dimly.
"Well, it would seem that all the other Duchies have managed to decrease rogue newling activities. Our Duchess, however, despite her best efforts, remains with an even greater problem than when she began. There have been other murders in Phoenix, Houston, DC, Miami and Atlanta. All within a few days together. All fitting the pattern."
"So, she things that whoever are doing these things knows they're being hunted and are feeding to increase in strength?"
"Well, that is one thought. But she thinks it's more likely that they're trying to stir things up. No one needs that much energy in such a short time. Its excess, even if there are two of them."
"And why hasn't she been able to trace them?"
"Well, it would seem that these newlings do not converse with their fathers. And if they did, it would seem the father is not speaking, so none of the other Demons know."
"And that doesn't strike you as being strange?"
"On the contrary, it strikes me as very strange, which is why I need your help in calling our Father. Perhaps if both of us summon him, he may come."
"Dante, you know as well as I do that you do not summon a Demon King. They deign to visit you. And there's no higher ranking Demon than him, so we can't even ask the Regiorum to pull rank through their fathers and order him to appear."
"Yes, I know all that, but I figure that the last time we summoned him together the last time, he came. I'm sure that if we both do it, he'll come."
Nico knew that what Dante was saying was true. When he had turned fourteen, Nico, like his brother, was given his inheritance and was sent to Geneva to be cared for by the Regiorum. For the next seven years, he had been educated in all the literature and arts the Cambion Council had thought necessary and befitting Princes of their lineage. It was on his first day in Geneva that together, Nico and Dante had summoned their father. It hadn't been the last time they had seen the father, but it had been the last time that they had managed to summon him. Apparently life as the King of one of the Circles of Hell was so demanding that you couldn't spare ten minutes in over a hundred years for your offspring unless you needed them. Then again, Nico reminded himself, his father was a Demon. It was to be expected, he supposed.
"I'll make you a deal, Dante. If I agree to this, and you come to dinner tonight, you promise nothing weird happens. No toying with the humans, no manipulating them, and you don't use your abilities. You act like a normal person around them."
Dante's smile widened into a lopsided grin: "I'll be the personification of etiquette dear brother. And no cambion tricks tonight, I promise."
Nico still felt uneasy about the whole situation, but decided there was nothing to do about it. Besides, he knew that they would have had to try and summon their father. If he could get some sort of benefit out of what would inevitably happen, he should be grateful. Without bothering to turn his back on Dante, Nico stripped off his briefs, exposing the soft, smooth flesh of his groin to the cool air in his room. His manhood rested snuggly in its nest of pitch black hair. His balls were slowly being pulled closer to his body in an attempt to keep them warm. Nico heard Dante wolf whistling and looked up to see his brother give him a wink and then a sarcastic smirk. With that, Dante got up and left the room. Finally alone, Nico walked into the bathroom and into the shower.
Nico gave the room one last critical look before heading to answer the doorbell. The servants had actually laid the table in the formal dining room, possibly the least used room in the house. It was perfectly set, with shiny silver cutlery and porcelain plates. Seeing that everything was perfect, Nico left the room and headed for the entrance. Despite being glad to have Bianca and Christian over, he wasn't really looking forward much to meeting Gabbi. Bracing himself, he opened the door to see Bianca's smiling face beaming at him.
"Hey Raf, how's it going. Wow, Christian wasn't joking when he said you have an amazing place. We're only in the entrance and I like it already." Bianca was gushing as she stared at the sparkling entrance hall bathed in soft golden light. She quickly hugged Nico and then turned back to admiring the room around her. Nico turned back to the door to meet Christian.
As always, the boy looked handsome. Except today, he was wearing a blue dress shirt and a pair of black dress pants His hair was styled neatly instead of its usual tousled style. The effect was breathtaking: how the boy hadn't landed a modelling contract with some hot modelling agency was beyond comprehension. Standing hunched into him was a shortish pretty girl with mousy brown hair and small, framed glasses. She had light brown skin and full red lips.
"Hey Raf, this is Gabby. Gabby, this is Raf."
Raf extended his hand to her, trying to be polite. Her handshake was limp, something that irritated Nico.
"Please to meet you Gabby. Please, come on in guys."
The two walked into the entrance hall and joined Bianca. A servant came into the room to take their coats. Nico could see that Gabby was interested in the room's décor. After taking off their coats, Nico ushered them into the dining room, where they were about to sit down when Dante strode into the room. Bianca and Christian both looked startled and Gabby was clearly confused.
"So, you guys must be my brother's newest friends, Bianca and Christian?" Dante cast a brilliant smile at the two. He shook hands with both of them before turning to Gabby. "And you must be Christian's girlfriend, Gabby? I'm Dante, Nico's older brother."
For the first time since entering the house, Gabby gave a genuine smile. It didn't go unnoticed by either Nico or Dante. After the greetings were dispensed with, they all sat down and one of the servants came in carrying a starter. It was a delicious warm artichoke soup. The conversation slowly started to build as they all sipped at their soup and wine in equal measures.
"So, Gabby, what do you study?" It was Dante asking.
"History. I'm actually majoring in European Royalty. I've always been fascinated by the historical role they played in European history and even contemporary society."
The news surprised Nico. He hadn't realised that Gabby would be so open about what she was studying. Clearly Christian hadn't told her anything about them. Before he could stop him, Nico heard Dante replying.
"Well, we actually have some noble blood ourselves, Gabby."
This time it was Gabby's turn to be surprised. Again before he could say anything, Christian spoke up.
"Dante's being modest Gabz. They're actually Princes from Italy. They are royalty."
"But Italy doesn't have a royal family anymore. They were banished after World War Two for the complicit role they played in the Mussolini government. The Italian royals renounced their titles and their wealth before being exiled."
Clearly this girl wasn't joking when she said she was interested by European Royals. Not many people knew of the Italian Royal Family's exile from the country. It was an issue that was hard to explain, and it drew suspicion, which is why Nico never let anyone know about his titles. Even Dante knew where to draw the line, and smoothly changed to subject.
"Ah, the infamous Mussolini. I remember an uncle causing a huge scene about him the day we turned six."
Bianca looked up from her soup, an interested expression on her face.
"What do you mean when "we" turned six?"
`What, Nico didn't tell you? We're twins. I'm a minute and thirty seconds older than him."
Nico had to bite his tongue to keep from speaking. This dinner was not going the way he had planned, and clearly he had been right about the volatile nature of Dante's company. You never knew what agenda he was working at.
"Raf, you never told us you were a twin?" Clearly the news surprised Christian as well. As they had been speaking, none of them had noticed that Gabby had been fiddling on her Blackberry. With a look of triumph she spoke up, clearly oblivious to the course the conversation had taken.
"See, I was right. I just looked it up. It says here that the Italian Royal family was exiled and they still aren't allowed to return to Italy. They were stripped of their citizenship, titles and property before being sent away. You guys are lying."
Christian looked at Gabby as if she had just sprouted horns. He was clearly embarrassed by her outburst and accusations. Nico looked up and saw Dante's eyes flashing. He wasn't used to people challenging him and Nico knew he was going to react badly to the situation. He had to find some way of diffusing the situation, and quickly.
"Haha, you're right Gabby. We were just joking. Sorry, we have a really lame sense of humour like that."
The explanation seemed to satisfy Gabby somewhat. They were just about to resume their conversation when this time, Dante spoke up. Nico looked up at him and started to worry. He could see the telltale signs manifesting themselves as Dante began to access his powers. His eyes seemed to glitter brilliantly, his voice was growing gradually more husky and sensual. Nico could smell the pheromones filling the air around them, saturating it with pure sexual energy, all directed at Dante.
"Actually Gabby, my brother is lying. We are exactly who we said we are. My name is Dante Savoy, and I am a member of the Italian Royal family. I don't take kindly to being called a liar."
Instead of the atmosphere turning confrontational, Dante's powers were masking his actions with an aura of raw sexuality, making him look masculine and rugged. Instead of having a frightening effect on the three humans in the room, it was serving to draw them all in, making them succumb to the sheer masculinity and sexual allure that Dante was exuding.
As he had been speaking, Gabby who was sitting between Dante and Christian had started leaning in towards Dante. Her eyes were riveted to his face, reflecting sheer lust. Bianca and Christian similarly couldn't take their eyes of Dante. In a manner, Nico thanked goodness that they were watching Dante and not him. At least he would be able to communicate to his brother without them seeing. He held up his hand in warning and caught his brother's eye, silently mouthing the word `stop'. Dante glanced away and started increasing the effect he was having on the three humans. His skin was starting to glow slightly and his smile was devastating to the humans. He ran a hand roughly through his hair, the action spilling even more pheromones into the air as well as drawing attention to his clearly toned physique. Again Nico caught Dante's eye, this time glaring at him and sending him a surge of mental energy in warning. It seemed to have the desired effect because Dante started toning down his powers and eventually, the table was sitting dead silent, everyone looking completely confused. Blushing bright red with embarrassment, Christian stood up.
"Um, maybe it's time that we leave. Bianca you ready to go? Thanks Raf, the food was amazing. Dante, it was really nice meeting you. I really hope to see you again soon."
At his words, Bianca jumped up as well and started saying her goodbyes. Gabby, however remained in her seat, still looking at Dante.
"Come on Gabby, we're leaving." As he spoke, Christian was pulling her chair back. Gabby eventually stood up, still staring at Dante who flashed her a brilliant smile in return. Nico also stood up and started walking with them to the entrance hall, where they quickly bundled into their coats before stepping out the door. Nico quickly hugged Bianca good-bye, before shaking hands with Christian and Gabby. Just before they turned to leave, Christian glanced around one more time and mouthed a silent apology at Nico. Nico smiled back at him before turning back into the house. He bounded up the stairs back into the dining room where Dante was still sitting, nonchalantly carrying on with his meal as if nothing had happened.
"What the hell was that, Dante. You promised you wouldn't pull any crap like that."
"Oh, relax Raf. She was a total bitch and you know it. Besides, I don't think it's her that you're worried about offending. That Christian really is quite a looker, although my tastes run more towards his sister. But hey, to each his own."
The observation stunned Nico into silence. He hadn't realised that his infatuation with Christian was so obvious. Without another word, he spun around and left the room.
Lemme know what you guys think... Im interested in any and all comments!!!
A lot of people have asked about the sex. And yes, while there is some hot sex in the story, that's not the main point of it. But anyway, lemme know!
Luca.
lucawarberg@gmail.com